[Public-list] lazy jacks

[Gordon Laco]

Hi George - 

I don't know where I put those sketches... Probably did not keep them.  I
have a better idea - I will take my camera on the boat tonight in our club
race and take a few photos of our main coming down at the end.

Gord






> Gordon Laco wrote:
>> Ok - here goes;
>> 
>> What I am describing is called by sailors a 'sea furl' because it is a good
>> way to stow the mainsail quickly at sea and in bad weather without using the
>> whole crew to gather it up and tie in the gaskets.
>> 
>> To do this you would go up to the mast and ease the main halyard enough that
>> the first reef tack comes down to the boom.  Snub the halyard, and haul in
>> the first reef line...which will pull the first reef clew almost to the
>> boom. Tie it off.  Hold the first reef tack in one hand while easing the
>> halyard again with the other.  If you hold that tack in your left hand, and
>> control the halyard with your right, you will basically be lowering the sail
>> into the trough created by the first reef tack and clew.  Once you have the
>> main mostly or all down, tie off the halyard and roll the sail up tightly
>> onto the boom.  I always tie the first gasket with the tail of the boom vang
>> (because it is always there)  work your way back to the cockpit tying on
>> another two gaskets and you will end up with the mainsail rolled onto the
>> boom with a 'skin' of smooth sailcloth on top.  You then cast off the reef
>> line so you are not surprised by it when next you raise the main.
>> 
>> The whole thing looks neat and tidy, easy as pie once you do it a couple of
>> times.
>> 
>> When you have two people on board, the person who stays in the cockpit
>> steering controls the tiller (or wheel as in our case) with a foot while
>> holding the first reef clew while the mast man holds the first reef tack.
>> The main dumps into the trough as before and the sail then gets rolled into
>> a tight bundle on top of the boom.
>> 
>> Hope that helps.  I sent someone a series of diagrams a year or so ago... If
>> you'd like them I can offer them again.
> 
> If you email them to me, I'll post 'em on the website.
> 


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